The Winmau World Masters was the concluding event in the 2003 BDO Grand Slam Title of its major televised tournaments. The exciting target for all top BDO/WDF players this year was to win the ‘Big Four’ BDO/WDF televised tournaments:

· The Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships in January,
· The International Darts League in May,
· The World Darts Trophy in September
· The Winmau World Masters in November.

First staged in 1974 and played annually ever since, the Winmau World Masters is regarded as a true ‘major’ on the world darts calendar. It attracts more top darts players from around the globe than any other tournament in world darts, with Champions from over 120 National and International darts events. The Winmau World Masters celebrates its 30th birthday this year, and can now boast competitors from 40 countries, including a contingent from China.

To the event itself and the first semi final saw the first great match. Raymond Barneveld who was throwing 30+ averages all event was up against a very inform Andy Fordham who was averaging 32+ in all of his lead up games. Fordham had just defeated Martin Adams (3 – 1) and Mervyn King (3 – 1) in his previous two matches so he was prepared for a great battle. This classic of a match went the full distance with Barneveld (Seeded No.1) scrapping into the final with a 6 – 5 win over Fordham. Andy 'The Viking' Fordham, with the majority of the crowd backing him, made a fast start and raced into a two-set lead against the three-time world champion. But Barneveld fought back and nailed double four and eighteen to reduce the deficit before taking the fourth set by two legs to one. Fordham was unable to respond in the fifth as Barneveld moved through the gears and nailed double sixteen and four to move ahead for the first time. 'The Viking' dug deep after the interval and two successful attempts at double twenty levelled the match again before he took the lead with a 2 - 0 success in the next set. But Barneveld won four of the next five legs to move within one set of victory. To his credit, Fordham took the game to a decider by winning the 10th set 2 - 0, but Barneveld showed his class to hit double top twice and close out the match. Barneveld (33.94) had lifted his game in this semi to average over the magic 100 per three darts for the match. Fordham, who was not seeded this year, maintained his great form to average 32.68, but that was not enough to defeat Barneveld.

The other semi final saw the number three seed in Tony West (31.33) come off a great win over John Walton (28.35) 3 – 1. His opponent was Ted Hankey (27.33) who had just managed to squeak out a victory over Scotland’s Gary Anderson (29.14) 3 – 2. Hankey was seeded at two, so as far as the seeding went, this should be another quality encounter. Hankey made an impressive start to the match and a successful attempt at double five clinched the first set. West fought back to take the second and the next two sets were shared. But it was Hankey, who went into the break with 3 - 2 advantage after nailing double two. The interval did not break Hankey's concentration and he reeled off the next two legs to open up the two-set lead. West responded by winning the seventh set but Hankey punched the air with delight after landing his dart in the double ten bed to move him within one set of victory. However, it was almost inevitable that such an exciting match would go to a deciding set and West took out double eight and twenty to set up a tense finale. After the first two legs were shared, both players missed chances to close out the match before West took out double two. West (30.63) had hung on and as with the first semi final, scrapped in against Hankey (31.20) 6 – 5 to move into the final.

"I just kept believing I could do it and in the end I did," said West. "I don't really know what to say, I'm speechless.

"The crowd were excellent, they kept me going throughout. I just kept digging in and it's unbelievable that I've won.

"I let myself down last year (against Dudbridge) but I've made up for that now. I'm looking forward to the Lakeside World Championships now."

Final averages were: Tony West 31.20, Raymond Barneveld 32.28

Gulliver moved through to the quarterfinals without much pressure being placed on her. At the quarters she found a challenger in the name of Jan Robbins of Wales. This was a great contest with Gulliver taking the match 4 – 3. With that victory out of the way, her semi final opponent was the number five seed in Carina Ekberg. The Swedish player had just defeated the Netherlands Karin Krappen 4 – 0 so she was confident. Gulliver’s (26.60) class came through here winning comfortably from Ekberg (21.22) 4 – 1.

In the other half of the draw, from the quarterfinals onwards only one seed had survived – number seven seed Crissy Howat. She defeated fellow English player Lisa Stephens 4 – 1 in the quarterfinals and then faced Italy’s Mojca Humar. Humar, a Student from Duino had an impressive win over Scotland’s Ann Kirk 4 – 3 and was ready for the semi finals. The Howat Humar match was a terrific contest with perhaps Howat being the more experienced player being the difference. Howat (22.01) defeating Humar (23.32) 4 – 2.

A huge crowd fronted the players for the final (Best of 7 x 501) to see the No.1 seed against No.7 seed. Gulliver the reigning Champion had a contest in this final from Howat. Last year she won the title with a 4 – 1 victory over Karen Smith, but the 2003 battle for the Winmau Women’s World Masters Champion crown would be a lot tougher for Gulliver. Howat was away first but Gulliver immediately broke Howat to lead 1 – 0. With the early break Gulliver (pictured right) pushed the score out to 3 – 1 and requiring one more leg for the Championship. Howat had other ideas and levelled the final at 3 – 3. She was away first in the final leg as well. Howat was sitting on 64 left when Gulliver took the match with a 101 pegout. The Crown was hers again. The Players averages: Trina Gulliver 25.34, Crissy Howat 24.62.

The Aussies
Three Australian representatives contested this year’s event. Natalie Carter, Carol Forwood and Janine Cassar. Cassar played in Group 2 and had a great first round win against Dil Walters of Wales. 4 – 1 being the winning score line. Her next opponent was the experienced English player Apylee Jones. Jones has been one of England’s top players for some years, and was too strong for Cassar in this match, winning 4 – 1. Carter played in Group 4 and played the Swiss Secretary from Regensdorf in Lisa Huber. This was a great match, but unfortunately for her Carter lost 4 – 3. Group 7 had Carol Forwood represent Australia. She too had a hard first round match against England’s Jane Stubbs. Forwood could not quite make it in a tight challenge, going done 4 – 2.